Some questions have come up concerning the application of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) principal residence exemption to special situations. I always advise people with a particular case involving significant sums of money to consult an accountant or tax lawyer, but here are the principles behind the principal residence exemption and tips on how to maximize your benefit while respecting our Canadian Income Tax Act.

Here’s a question that often comes up during my financial literacy workshops and one I have had to deal with in my own personal and professional life: When it comes to houses and cars — is it better to lease or buy?

Home insurance and what happens when the policyholder dies continues to be a hot topic as I address a letter sent to my editors from the Insurance Bureau of Canada concerning advice I gave in my column last week.

My friend’s husband of 15 years died suddenly two weeks ago. He was 62 and was planning to retire after 30 years with his company, but from what my friend has told me, he had not yet started the paperwork.